The Adaptation of the Play Twelfth Night by Andy Fickman - Essay Example

?Twelfth Night The adaptations of world renowned literary works from printed version to visual version (movie) represent individual freedom of directors. Some directors adapt the themes of literary works and make use of the same as a medium to communicate with the audience/viewers. But some other directors strictly follow the literary works and never make use of their individual freedom. Within this context, the adaptation of the play Twelfth Night by Andy Fickman is symbolic of individual freedom because the same enhances the reader's/audience's perception by connecting the missing links. Thesis statement: The analysis based on the two versions of the play Twelfth Night (the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare and the movie She’s the Man by Andy Fickman) proves that Shakespeare’s play revolves around the central character named as Viola, but Fickman provides ample importance to the play’s theme and presents the same in a different way. Analysis This section is broadly divided into four, namely: setting, character, theme, and literary/dramatic trope/irony. Setting In the play, Shakespeare makes use of the romantic atmosphere of Illyria to unveil the mistaken identity of the heroine/hero. Besides, the playwright utilizes the atmosphere of real Illyria to stimulate the imagination of the audience. During Shakespeare’s time, less was known about Illyria because the same was a distant area from England. Robert Owen Scott states that, “Shakespeare’s Illyria is a fairy-tale land populated with dukes, ladies, knights, and jesters” (21). To be specific, the playwright introduces an imaginary setting to the Elizabethan audience. This initiative is important because the aspiration to know more about distant lands was an important characteristic of the audience during Shakespeare’s time. One can see that Shakespeare was aware of the fact that less knowledge about a place can stimulate imagination. So, the land of Illyria is symbolic of the playwright’s attempt to entertain the viewers. Besides, romance is interconnected with imagination and an imaginary atmosphere is suitable to tell a romantic tale. Frederic Kolman states that, “This is a play about love, placed in a festive atmosphere in which three couples are brought together happily” (18). Shakespeare aims to provide a pleasant mood to the play because the same suits the romantic setting of the same. On the other side, Shakespeare makes use of the story of shipwreck to connect the twins (say, Viola and Sebastian) with the dramatic atmosphere of Illyria. This is important because shipwreck can happen anywhere and there is high possibility for anyone to be entrapped in a distant land. So Shakespeare amalgamated imagination and reality by choosing a dramatic atmosphere as the setting of his play, i.e. Illyria. On the other side, the movie based on the play provides less importance to an imaginative land because director does not try to choose a distant land as the setting. One can easily identify the fact that choosing a distant land can reduce the scope of box-office success of a film because distance is not considered as important in the modern world. So, the director amalgamated the setting into the film’s plot, i.e. the rivalry between Cornwall School and Illyria School. In addition, rivalry related to sports is an important element of the setting and plot in the film. Still, the director exploits the scope of the setting because victory in soccer match is important for the players and those who support them. To be specific, the dramatic atmosphere of the setting in the play is not utilized in the film. Instead, the director makes use of the setting as a background to support the development of the film’s plot. Character In the play, Shakespeare makes use of the character Viola as the backbone of the plot. For instance, the whole play develops through the development of the character Viola from a castaway to the duchess of Illyria. Peter Grube makes clear that, “The social reality of the Elizabethan Age was obviously marked by a contrast between a firm social hierarchy and at the same time the beginnings of flexibility within this hierarchy that concerned several layers of the contemporary audience” (6). From a different angle of view, Viola’s transformation can be evaluated as an attempt to gain social recognition/acceptance. To be specific, social recognition/acceptance is an important factor of success in the modern society. In the opening of the play, Shakespeare presents Viola as the victim of a shipwreck. Gradually, Viola becomes the most important character in the play because almost all the characters act according to her will. In the play, even the Duke of Illyria is portrayed as a puppet in the hands of Viola. This proves that Shakespeare makes use of the character Viola to create awareness among the audience/readers that charming personality can result in upward mobility in the society. To be specific, Viola converts the problems in her life as unique opportunities to be successful in life. Besides, Viola is symbolic of the combination of feminine and masculine characteristics in a single person. In the play, Viola states that, “As I am woman, now alas the day, What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe?” (65). One can see that Viola makes use of her gender impersonation to influence the other characters. To be specific, the other main characters are not aware of Viola’s gender identity. But the audience is aware of Viola’s real identity. This difference in awareness enhances the audience’s understanding of the play. On the other side, Viola Hastings in the movie represents the feminine fight against male supremacy. In the movie, Viola Hastings is never ready to subdue to male supremacy and marginalization. Her impersonation is an attempt to keep herself safe from the coach of the soccer team of Illyria. She does not try to waste her energy by arguing with the coach. Instead, she joins the rival team and teaches the coach a valuable lesson that gender identity is unimportant in a modern society. When the character Viola in Shakespeare’s play is superimposed into the context of Andy Fickman’s movie, one can see that some important characteristics of the character get ignored. For instance, Shakespeare’s Viola provides ample importance to material success in her life. But Fickman’s character considers that career (say, as a soccer player) is important in her life. Still, she does not ignore her brother and fights against male supremacy. Still, both the versions of the play make use of Viola as the central character. Shakespeare focuses on the unending passion of Viola towards success in life. On the other side, Fickman goes deep into the problems faced by Viola in a male dominated society and unearths the scope of feminine protest against marginalization. Theme One can easily identify that the themes of the play and the movie are linked with the issues related to gender identity, especially gender impersonation. In the play, the development of the theme is interconnected with gender impersonation by the main character. In the play, the main character focuses on gender impersonation and makes use of the same to gain material benefits. But the main character is aware of the fact that her twin brother is alive. So, gender impersonation is used as a tool to escape from alienated life in a different society. To be specific, the reason behind the gender impersonation of the main character in the play is not male supremacy. Instead, the main character is aware of the fact that gender impersonation can help her to influence Duke Orsino. On the other side, the theme of the movie is interconnected with gender problem. To be specific, the main character in the film is the victim of gender discrimination. The main character is aware of the fact that her gender identity hinders her from being a member of the soccer team. Within this scenario, the main character decides to hide her gender identity. L. Monique Pittman opines that, “Secondly, She’s The Man reminds the viewer at every turn of the double position played by Viola as girl-boy” (115). In the movie, Viola Hastings tries to prove that discrimination based on one’s sexual identity is unjustifiable. In addition, the director chose the problem of gender discrimination to unveil the problems faced by the female members in the society. The director uses the character Viola Hastings as an important medium to communicate with the viewers in general. One can see that the movie’s title (She’s the Man) is symbolic of the problem of gender discrimination. In the end, the main character proves that her gender identity is not an important factor of success in her life. Still, she is ready to reveal her feminine identity because she is aware of that gender impersonation is an effective tool to attain her aim. So, both the playwright and the director make use of the same theme, but treat the same in different ways. This basic difference leads the reader/viewer to perceive the theme from different angles. Literary/dramatic trope/irony In the play, Shakespeare utilizes dramatic irony to excuse Olivia’s love towards Cesario. To be specific, Viola acts as a male messenger named as Cesario. Those who read/view the play are aware of the real identity of Cesario. But Olivia and Orsino do not know the real identity of Cesario. In the play, the dialogue between Olivia and Orsino, related to Cesario, is symbolic of dramatic irony. In the play, Olivia points out that, “O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful In the contempt and anger of his lip!” (70). In the movie, even the title (She’s the Man) is symbolic of literary/dramatic trope/irony. To be specific, the viewer is aware of the fact that Viola Hastings is acting as her brother and the movie’s title proclaims that Viola is the man. So, masculinity in Viola Hastings’ character and her dialogues imitating the male members in her soccer team and boarding school are symbolic of dramatic irony in the movie. Summing, the two versions of the play help the reader/viewer to have deeper understanding on the scope of setting, character, theme, and literary/dramatic trope/irony within different mediums (written and visual). The playwright allows the reader/viewer to ponder upon the scope of imagination in the play. On the other side, the director makes use of his individual freedom and superimposes the theme into the context of modern society. Besides, the director’s version is entirely different from the play because the same portrays the scope of action against male supremacy in the modern world. Still, both the play and the movie use the same theme to deal with the subject matter of gender impersonation and related issues. Works Cited Grube, Peter. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night - Topicality As a Problem. Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag, 2008. Print. Kolman, Frederic. William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. New Jersey: Research & Education Assoc., 1996. Print. Pittman, L. Monique. Authorizing Shakespeare on Film and Television: Gender, Class, and Ethnicity in Adaptation. New York: Peter Lang, 2011. Print. Shakespeare, William. The plays and poems of William Shakspeare. London: E. Fleischer, 1833. Print. Scott, Robert Owen. Twelfth Nights. New York: Barron's Educational Series, 1985. Print. Read More